Toy rocket and launching assembly



Nov. 22, 1966 F. J. FORTUNATO TOY ROCKET AND LAUNCHING ASSEMBLY FiledApril 25, 1963 NTOR arfwmz/a BY M 3. SW ATTORNEY United States Patent()fiice 3,286,392 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 3,286,392 TOY ROCKET ANDL'AUNCHING ASSEMBLY Francis J. Fortunato, 1643 Race-Sb, Philadelphia,Pa.

Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,663 1 7 Claims. (Cl. 46-74) 1 Thisinvention relates to toys and more particularly to the type of toydesigned to stimulate actual weapons and rockets presently in use. v

Prior art devices incorporating.self propelled features had the commondeficiency. of being possibly harmful. to those playing inasmuch as thepropelled portion could possibly be injurious to eyesand, other parts ofthe body. In addition, the very nature of the art wherein a member wasdesigned to fly through the air resulted-in excessive breakage and shorttoy life.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a toy rocket thatis absolutely harmless to its users.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toy rocket of uniquelight weight construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toy rocketincorporating resilient featuresinsuring long life.

It is another object of my invention to provide a toy rocket thatis'simple in operation, inexpensive in manufacture, and trouble-freeuponuse. I

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had byreferring to the following description and claims of a preferredembodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views and in which: I v v FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partly insection showing rocket and launcher. t

FIG. 2 is a partial elevation view, partly in section, showing rocketafter it has left launcher. 7 FIG. 3 is a partial elevation view, partlybroken away, showing operation of my invention. 1

FIG; 4 is a cross section taken along line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view of a modified rocket and launcher, partly in crosssection. 1

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view of the modification shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view of another modified rocket and launcher, partly incross section.

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for thesake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to theparticular structure of my invention selected for illustration in thedrawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of theinvention.

In FIG. 1, I show an elongated, hollow cylindrical toy rocket body 10constructed of plastic, cardboard, aluminum or similar material lightenough in weight to readily fly through the air and at the same timestrong and rigid enough for the duty without undue deformation orbreakage. Missile end 11 is open to receive balloon 12, shaped tosimulate an actual nose cone. Diametrically opposed to holes 13, 14drilled in body 10 near launcher end 15 provide places of attachment forrubber band 16. The rubber band should be of suitable size andresiliency to propel rocket assembly 17 through the air when stretchedto maximum length 18 by launcher push rod 19. Ends 22, 23 of rubber band16 should be knotted, stapled or otherwise secured at attaching points20, 21 to prevent band 16 from tearing loose upon operation.

Launcher assembly 24 comprises a handle 25, a barrel 26 and push rod 19.If desired, handle and push rod may be constructed of a single length ofwooden, plastic or metal rod extending through and securely fastened tobarrel portion 24. The barrel should be cylindrical with outer diameter27 corresponding to or larger than outer diameter 28. Rocket end 29 ofbarrel 24 is closed to provide a shoulder'30 to. receivelauncher end 15of rocket upon operation in order to insure a positive limitation ofrelative motion of rocket towards launcher. Diameter 31 of push rod-19mustbe smaller than inside diameter 32 of rocket body 10 in order toreadily fit within body 10 without binding.

' Balloon 12 projects forwardly from missile end 11 of rocket body 10and may be secured by external .cellophane tape strips 33, 34 or othersimilar, light, inexpensive means joining balloon to rocket body 10. Itis contemplated that the toy will be sold disassembled and that balloon12 will be inflated and attached by the user after purchase. The balloonis maintained inflated by closure 35 in any well known manner withclosure 35 inserted into end 11 of rocket in the interest both toprevent accidental deflation due to closure damage and to the finishedappearance of the toy.

Rocket end 35 of push rod 19 terminates in shallow, diametrical groove36 of suflicient dimensions to receive and hold rubber band 16 uponoperation of the toy.

. In FIGS. 5 and 6, I show a modified form of my invention wherein Iprovide a modified missile assembly 38 constructed similar. to thathereinabovev described except that the rubber band has been omitted-Modified launcher assembly 37 includes'handle 39, hollow cylindricalbarrel 40 and propulsion. assembly 41. Pr-opulsion assembly furnisheslaunching .lugs 42, 43 projecting perpendicularly through dual,opposite, longitudinal slots 44, 45 extending intermediate the top 46and bottom 47 of barrel 40. t Launching lugs 42, 43 are urged throughslots 44, 45 towards top 46 by means of a compression spring, rubberband or other resilient means 51 suitably secured at top 74 and bottomfor positive operation. Modified missile 38 is constructed, of suchdiameter to fit over barrel 46 of modified launcher 37 without bindingso as to permit missile bottom48 to engage lugs 42, 43 in theirunstressed position'49 at top position 50 of slots 44, 45. When missile38 is urged downwardly over barrel 40 against action of resilient means51, lugs 42, 43 are depressed downwardly in slots 44, 45 to stressedposition 52 at bottom position 53 of the slots.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, I show another modified form of my invention wherein Iprovide a modified missile 38, similar to that hereinbefore describedand shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Modified launcher 54 comprises a handle 55,push rod 56 forming a longitudinal extension of handle and launch ring57 slidably arranged on push rod 56 leaving clearance 71. Rubber band 58depends from top 59 of push rod and is secured thereto by suitableretaining ring 60 pinned or otherwise immovably fixed in position. Ends61, 62 of rubber band 58 are knotted 63, 64 to diametrically opposedsides of launch ring 57 in recesses 45, 66 so as not to interfere withslidable engagement of launch ring 57 and push rod 58. Launch ringmotion is limited at top by retaining ring 60 which has externaldiameter 67 greater than internal diameter 68 of centrally positioned,circular opening 69 of launch ring 57. Launch ring motion at bottom islimited by shoulder 70 designed of sufiicient diameter to positivelyprevent passage of launch ring 57.

In operation, the launcher assembly 24 is grasped in one hand (notshown) and the missile body 10 in the other hand 72. Rubber band 16 isengaged upon groove 36 of push rod 19 and rocket body is urged overbarrel 26 until end of rocket 29 bottoms against shoulder 30 and rubberband 16 is stretched to maximum length 18. The toy rocket is then inready position and may be fired simply by aiming, releasing hand 72 andallowing rocket assembly to travel forward urged by the energy containedin stretched rubber band 16. If desired, a plurality of similar missilesmay be kept close at hand for rapid firing using the same launchingassembly as fast as the hands can manipulate the toy.

In order to operate the modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, themodified launch-er 37 is grasped in one hand and the modified missile 38by the other hand 72. Bottom 47 of barrel 40 is rested upon launchinglugs 42, 43 and then rocket body is urged downwardly over barrel 40forcing lugs downwardly in slots 44, 45 thereby depressing spring means51 until lugs strike against bottom 53 of slots 44, 45. The toy rocketis then in ready position and may be fired similarly to that alreadydescribed.

In order to operate the modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, themodified launcher 54 is grasped in one hand (not shown) and the modifiedmissile 38 by the other hand 72. Bottom 47 of barrel 40 is rested uponlaunch ring 57 and rocket body is urged over push rod 56 until end ofrocket 29 forces launch ring downwardly to bottom against shoulder 70.Rubber band 58 is stretched to maximum length in this position and toyrocket is ready for firing in the usual way. Upon release of themodified missile 38, launch ring will propel missile forwardly untillaunch ring reaches the forward limit of its travel and is restrained byretaining ring 60.

It should be understood that any of the modifications of my inventionherein described may be readily fitted with'a trigger mechanism in anyof several well known manners should adevice of more complexity bedesired and still be within the scope of my invention. Further, launcherassembly 24 may be provided with a tripod (not shown) in any well knownmanner to hold launcher assembly in a vertical position simulating thatof full size launchers. It is contemplated that conventional Christmastree stands could be utilized for this purpose. If desired, conicalinserts 76, 77 may be secured to interior of rocket bodies havingcentral opening to receive launcher, in order to reduce looseness and toinsure greater accuracy in operation.

Cap holders 78, 79 may be provided on underside of top 46 to securecommon caps in any well known manner. Striking points 80, 81 extendingupwardly from propulsion assembly 41 fire caps (not shown) uponoperation of propulsion assembly when drawn upwardly by resilient means51. An access panel (not shown) should be provided in barrel 40 invicinity of cap holders 78, 79 to permit access to launcher interior forplacement of cap prior to firing. It is thus seen that simulated noiseproducers can be added to act simultaneously with the missile launchingoperation. It is further contemplated that by adding two or more devicesin series in accordance with the instant invention, a two or three stagesimulated rocket may be readily assembled.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the combination and arrangement of parts may berestored to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: 1

1. In a toy rocket, the combination of a missile assembly and alaunching assembly propelling said missile assembly; said missileassembly including a light, hollow body portion having a lightweight,resilient projectile means end and a launch end, and, resilient meanssecured intermediate said ends of said body portion; said launchingassembly including a handle portion and push rod extending from saidhandle having a free end, said push rod having cross section areapermitting insertion within said hollow body portion and havingsuflicient length to engage upon and stretch said resilient means; saidlaunch assembly being telescoped within said missile assemblyimmediately prior to launching.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said 1ight-weight resilient meanscomprise an inflated balloon.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said light-weight resilient meanscomprise an inflated balloon, said balloon being shaped to resemble anactual nose 'cone and said balloon secured to said body portion by aplurality of strips of cellophane tape.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said resilient means include alength 'of rubber band, said rubber band having an--initial, unstressedposition and a final, elongated position immediately prior to launching.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said free end of push rod terminatesin a shallow, diametrical groove, said groove engaging said resilientmeans.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said'launching assembly furnishes ashoulder to limit the telescoping motion of said launching assemblywithin said missile assembly.

7. A toy missile comprising a lightweight, hollow, cylindrical,simulated rocket body, said body having an open forward end and an'openrearward end; an extremely lightweight, resilient, simulated nose conesecured to said forward end; and a rubber band stretching across theinterior of said rocket body intermediate its ends, said rubber bandbeing secured to diametrically opposed portions of the rocket bodynearer the said rearward end.

FOREIGN PATENTS 552,598 12/1956 Italy.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. W. R, BROWNE, Assistant Examiner,

1. IN A TOY ROCKET, THE COMBINATION OF A MISSILE ASSEMBLY AND ALAUNCHING ASSEMBLY PROPELLING SAID MISSILE ASSEMBLY; SAID MISSILEASSEMBLY INCLUDING A LIGHT, HOLLOW BODY PORTION HAVING A LIGHTWEIGHT,RESILIENT MEANS SECURED MEANS END AND A LAUNCH END, AND, RESILIENT MEANSSECURED INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS OF SAID BODY PORTION; SAID LAUNCHINGASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HANDLE PORTION AND PUSH ROD EXTENDING FROM SAIDHANDLE HAVING A FREE END, SAID PUSH ROD HAVING CROSS SECTION AREAPERMITTING INSERTION WITHIN SAID HOLLOW BODY PORTION AND HAVINGSUFFICIENT LENGTH TO ENGAGE UPON AND STRETCH SAID RESILIENT MEANS; SAIDLAUNCH ASSEMBLY BEING TELESCOPED WITHIN SAID MISSILE ASSEMBLYIMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO LAUNCHING.